Five Air France workers face trial in December

Five Air France employees will stand trial on December 2 for their alleged role in violent scenes last week during which one of the struggling airline's executives had his shirt ripped off.

The five men, who were arrested on Monday, face charges over the chaotic scenes at Air France's headquarters on October 5 when human resources chief Xavier Broseta, naked from the waist up, had to scale a fence to escape angry union militants.

Another executive, Pierre Plissonnier, also had his shirt and jacket ripped.

The men to stand trial are aged between 35 and 48. Four work for the airline's cargo arm and the other is an employee of Air France Industries.

The violent protests took place as Air France management were announcing a plan to cut 2,900 jobs.

An internal investigation at the airline has identified 10 workers thought to be involved in the violence. Disciplinary measures, which could include dismissal, are expected to be announced this week, a source said.

France's national flag carrier, facing intense competition from global rivals, is seeking to persuade its pilots to adopt more flexible working practices.

It wants pilots to fly 100 more hours a year for the same salary.

A two-week strike by the pilots in September 2014 crippled the airlines and cost 416 million euros ($475 million) in turnover.